Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Freedom

I am in Colossians this morning and it reminded me of several friends questions this week and things they are going through.  Colossians tells us to clothe ourselves with mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and forgiveness.  “Above all clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.”  And, we are also to let the peace that comes from Christ rule in our hearts. 

But where does this love come from?

1 John 4 tells us that God is love.  It comes from Him.  Only Christ in you can love “this way.”  It is not seen everywhere and it is only birthed in Him.   This world is filled with good people, but the love of Christ changes the world.

So, all those virtues above are signs of love.  And, they are bounded together by love. 

As we can learn, as Christians, that conflict has nothing to do with the person we are dealing with, but with God (and ourselves), then we can find resolution, peace, and unity.  I believe the only way to love yourself is to know His love.  When you enter a relationship with Christ, you encounter a love you had no idea existed; self confidence, self esteem, and self value stem right from there.  Also, this is that same love that you can then have for others. You can love others that love you and be kind to those that are kind to you, but Matthew 5 says, “but doesn’t make you any different from anyone else, pagans and tax collectors do that.”  This is different.

I was talking to a friend last night and I reminded her about a problem she is battling with:  this conflict has nothing to do with the person you are dealing with.  Nothing.  The way you react is not dependant on them.  It doesn’t matter what he said and HOW he said it.  As followers of Christ, we are to take things people say and do to us, to Him.  Ask Him, is this true? Or is it not true? And, how do You want me to deal with it?  (I love you, but if you are not reading your Bible this will not be your first reaction to conflicts.  Getcha booty in the Bible.).  In the case of another friend, maybe that means you say nothing and you walk away, so you do not lose it.  Then you can go to God later when you are calm, and then resolve it after God gave you wisdom.  As you practice self-control in Christ, it becomes more and more second nature.  Jump out of your God box and things unravel.  It can always mean choosing not to react out of emotion.

Most of the time, the person that spoke harshly didn’t even say what you think they said.  Your mind, thoughts, feelings, past emotions, etc conjured up something else. Someone may have caused you to have certain views, negative thoughts about yourself, feelings, emotions, and pain (physical and emotional).   Someone pinned you with a name or situation as a young person and now it is a memory, and ultimately, it became your identity.  You believe it to be true so it seems to just follow you through adulthood because, well, it is always there in your head, so it must be true.  “This happened because of that. See, it’s true.” 

Everyone does this.  I do not claim to be a counselor but these are all things that have come from the wisdom of God.  When you ask Him to show you why you do things or others around you act a certain way, He will guide you into a different knowledge to deal with people and situations in a GODLY way with His love.  I am not saying it is easy, but you can step back and see these in people and remain calm in Him.  Only with this knowledge did I break free myself.

As a Follower, you get a new life in Christ. 

Do you believe a new creation in Him???? (2 Corn 5:17, Romans 5:18, Romans 6:4, Romans 2:29, Romans 6:12…  There ARE WAY MORE LISTED IN THE BIBLE. Those are the ones that I recorded in the back of my journal for reference)

Not just a “used up, take me as I am, worn, exhausted, sluggish, and battered from the abuse of life’s past…but a New Life in Him.  He says a new life over and over again.  Paul was transformed.  One day killing Christians then came to know Christ and drastically changed.  What is the difference today?  He actually believed and trusted what He said.  (Blog on that saved on my desktop for another day).

The reason that you still think about comments and conflicts tomorrow or the next day or next week is because you have chosen to not take it to God and deal with it.   That is unforgiveness.  Sometimes that means going to a counselor because you taught yourself to deal with your emotions in a negative way and now you CANNOT GET THEM untangled after years of trauma.  Go.  You have to, your brain has developed a path of handling issues (my counselor friend told me)... but with Godly counsel, God will untangle.  I commend you for it.  You literally have to choose to abide in Christ (John 15:4) and hold thoughts captive (2 Corinthians 10:5).  Do not allow them to think anything before you take it to God to filter from your own garbage.  ME included!  The same girl that God designed to work for Him that has no problem asking a trafficker, “Oh, hi, are you a family friend?  Are you Dominican, where are you from?”  Is the same girl that will rip your head off if I let the devil whisper in my ear enough…

One is abiding and being used for the Glory of God.  The other is selfish, without self-control.  My tenacity for justice is the same, but now it is not for myself in defense to the devil’s lies to my head, it is for something important and real.

I believe with the Holy Spirit that lives in us, He can tell you anything.  Maybe it is with the help of other Christians.  I like my bff Heather when I have conflicts because she is in my face, straight-forward.  That is love.  She encourages me to do God’s will, in this world and in my head!   I don’t always like her advice, but God does.

So where do you begin?

Before you can start to fix outer conflicts, your inner Jesus conflict needs to change.  In my Bible study this week, we discussed putting on your helmet of Salvation.  When you do this, you have the mind of Christ.  Pause.  Think.… the mind of Christ.  Do you have thoughts that are of Christ?  What about sadness?  Gloomy?  Depressive?  Negative?  Combative?  Bitterness (unforgiveness)?  Unworthy?  Exhausted?  Discouraged?  You deserve ___?  Jealousy? Selfish?

That is not the mind of Christ.  KICK THEM OUT.  “God, is this person trying to be intentionally mean?  Trying to harm me?  Humiliate me?  Attack me?”  If GOD SAYS, yes, and He MIGHT, remove yourself.  There is no dealing with that.  

But I know most of the time, it isn’t true.  It is a lie in your head.  You have to choose to trust God.   You then have to trust that the people that are around you, love you, and are trying to help you be a “better Christian.” (Or if they aren’t helping you because they are not Christian and really are just mean, then you have to choose not to battle with them and guard your heart from bitterness (in Christ).  If you do not trust that they do love you and are led by Christ, then you will not be able to do that.  Start back over at God conflicts.  Unforgiveness will never allow peace with others.  You can’t get dressed in these virtues when you are bitter harboring old emotions.  Be renewed daily.  Not daily with the old garbage.  

When you take on the mind of Christ, your identity is in Christ.  You know why it is hard to hurt my feelings?  (THIS has not always been the case.)  I refuse to allow anyone to pin me to something I am not.  Immediately, I ask Christ ,“Is this what You say I am?”  Someone hurts your feelings because you had thoughts that followed their comment.  You are in control of that in your head and heart…only if you let Christ control you.  In Christ, I am.  He says I am righteous, seated next to him and a daughter of a King.  Taking it! 

If we do not have peace and trust in Him, we cannot have peace and trust in relationships around us.  Conflict is constant and communication is off.  We can’t figure out why nothing is what it really is. 

This week’s assignment:  ask God to search you out.  He already knows you.  He tells us to do this so He can show us stuff.    Do you trust Him to give you sound advice when someone wrongs you?  Then choose to do as He says.

2 Corin 3:17 Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.  I LOVE THAT!